We visited Trengwainton gardens this August and found a garden for all season, with a rich depth of planting evolving within the old estate walls.
I’ve always thought of Trengwainton as a spring garden, with a walled kitchen garden within. So we were pleasantly surprised to find the range of thoughtful sub tropical planting, rising to a terrace with fabulous views all the way from Penzance to The Lizard.
Our visit to Trengwaiton
Walking towards the entrance to a garden there is always a moment full of the anticipation for the day.
As we approached the garden, the chimney stacks of the Gardener’s cottage, gave a hint of special things to come.
A glimpse full of the promise for a garden wearing a light veil of history, with voluptuous green planting established over the centuries.
There was a bubble of activity in the visitors centre set in one of the old gatehouses and nobody was sent upon their way until briefed on the journey about to unfold before them. Armed with a map we made our way down into the garden weaving around the first exotic plantings to find the Walled kitchen gardens.
The walled Gardens
We threaded through the arched gateway into the walled gardens where orderly rows of vegetables mingle, with sunflowers and annuals. Well dressed scarecrows, wittily commemorating women of history, mingled with the light evocative scent of sweet peas hanging in the air. What a treat it was to explore the old garden
I couldn’t help but imagine the countless generations of gardeners who had walked through those gateways. Here they would labour through their lives within the old brick walls. Maybe they would aspire to the cottage that looked so perfect, set within the beds of Dahlias and Bananas.
We finally left the confines of the walled gardens and made our way down through the treese to the terrace. The soaring canopy of trees parted here and there to allow shafts of sunlight to illuminate the bright blue Hydrangeas below.
Our route took us passed ponds and sudden clearings filled with Tree ferns, before we emerged on to the Terrace.
We stopped to admire the magnificent house of course as we crossed the lawns well who wouldn’t?
Our first stop on the terrace was to peer again into the depths of the Ha Ha. The Horse trial used to jump this each year and the ditch looked even more formidable than ever!
The terrace and view
The terrace was broad and elegantly dressed with white Gazebos set at intervals along the way. Each Gazebo was beautiful floored with worn slate paving and placed to enjoy the magnificent views across Mounts Bay to The Lizard.
Trengwainton Tea Rooms – Cream teas
No garden visit could be complete without the quintessential cream tea if you’re in Cornwall and Trengwainton Tea Rooms offers a magnificent one with light fluffy scones, delicious jam and more than enough cream, all served by smart ladies in bright red striped jerseys. There was a yummy looking selection of cakes on offer too of course but somehow I was convinced a Cream tea was the thing to finish the day!
We sat in the little gravel terrace, with the gentle hubbub of conversations ebbing and flowing around us. Happy to contemplate our day and carefully divided the scones and pour the tea. The same time honoured ritual that marks garden visits up and down the country.
Should you feel tempted to visit just for Cream Tea, the tea rooms can be accesed directly from the car park.
Entrée for Trengwainton Gardens
We paid £17.50* for garden entry, plus £12.50* for a cream tea for two when we visited Trengwainton Gardens.
*August 2018
For more information from teh National Trust website about visiting Trengwainton Gardens click here
Are there more gardens to see around Penzance?
To enjoy another garden near Penzance, why not try Trewidden Garden or Tremenherre Sculpture Garden
Discover more from Ednovean Farm
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